Claressa Shields has called Jake Paul “a play-fighter” and insisted she could “embarrass” him with one hand inside the ring.
The GWOAT (Greatest Woman of All-Time) will be in her second MMA fight on Wednesday night in the Professional Fighters League before returning to boxing in December in the UK, live on Sky Sports, where she and her main rival Savannah Marshall will share the same bill.
Shields was asked about previous comments where she insisted it would be “disrespect” for a boxer with her vast accomplishments to appear on the undercard of YouTuber-turned-fighter Paul.
She said: “I don’t know what world people live in that they think a man [could beat me] who has not been to the Olympics, who has not fought professionally.
“There are a lot of women in boxing who could [out-box] men, especially a regular joe like Jake Paul!
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“I know it’s too much to fight him because it would be too embarrassing [for him], but if I were to spar Jake, I could use one hand.
“Just my jab, I wouldn’t even have to use the banger.
“Just my jab – I would out-jab, out-hook and out-uppercut him. I would embarrass him.
“This isn’t a shot at Jake Paul.
“This is how skilled I am. You’re not as great a boxer as me.
“If you are? Go to the Olympics and [win a] medal! Go!
“Because I sparred those guys too who are Olympic silver and gold medallists. Jake couldn’t grace the ring with those guys because they would destroy him, just like I would.
“This isn’t disrespectful. I am a skilled boxer – respect it and know it.
“Just because I’m a woman?
“This is real-life stuff. I box for real. I’m not a play-fighter.”
Shields won her MMA debut with a third-round stoppage after overcoming some early difficulty, and will compete again on Wednesday night against Abigail Montes.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist, three-division world champion and two-division undisputed champion is then set for her UK debut in December, live on Sky Sports.
Shields and Marshall are on a collision course for what would be the biggest-ever women’s boxing match next year.
She said when asked if that opportunity could distract her from her MMA fight: “I don’t think about Savannah Marshall. She thinks about me.
“I’m preparing for Abigail Montes then I fight in December. If she wins in December we could possibly have a fight.
“But I don’t think about her. I’ve got way more belts than her.
“I am focusing on MMA. When I do boxing, which I can do in my sleep, it takes four weeks to get back into the routine.”
Sky Sports Boxing schedule
October 31 – Top Rank in New York
Jose Zepeda vs Josue Vargas
November 6 – Top Rank in Las Vegas
Mikaela Mayer vs Maiva Hamadouche – IBF and WBO super-featherweight titles
November 6 – BOXXER in Liverpool
Super-lightweight tournament
November 20 – BOXXER in London
Richard Riakporhe vs Olanrewaju Durodola
Caroline Dubois professional debut
Florian Marku
Hosea Burton vs Dan Azziz – British light-heavyweight title
November 20 – Top Rank in Las Vegas
Terence Crawford vs Shawn Porter – WBO welterweight title
December 11 – BOXXER
Savannah Marshall
Claressa Shields
December 11 – Top Rank in Las Vegas
Vasiliy Lomachenko vs Richard Commey
December 17 – Top Rank in Montreal
Artur Beterbiev vs Marcus Browne – IBF and WBC light-heavyweight titles
February 26 – Top Rank in Glasgow
Josh Taylor vs Jack Catterall – undisputed super-lightweight title